Census counts of benthic foraminifera from core 721-1 obtained in 2002 off San Francisquito Creek in South San Francisco Bay

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Frequently anticipated questions:

What does this data set describe?

Title:
Census counts of benthic foraminifera from core 721-1 obtained in 2002 off San Francisquito Creek in South San Francisco Bay
Abstract:
This data release provides census counts of benthic foraminifera in sediments of a core obtained off San Francisquito Creek in South San Francisco Bay.
Supplemental_Information:
Additional information about the field activity from which these data were derived is available online at: https://cmgds.marine.usgs.gov/fan_info.php?fan=2002-603-DD Any use of trade, product, or firm names is for descriptive purposes only and does not imply endorsement by the U.S. Government.
  1. How might this data set be cited?
    McGann, Mary, 20230828, Census counts of benthic foraminifera from core 721-1 obtained in 2002 off San Francisquito Creek in South San Francisco Bay: data release DOI: 10.5066/P9QQT6KZ, U.S. Geological Survey, Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center, Santa Cruz, California.

    Online Links:

    This is part of the following larger work.

    McGann, Mary, Starratt, Scott W., Reidy, Liam M., Lorenson, Thomas D., Phillips, R. Lawrence, and Kneeshaw, Tara A., 2023, Radiocarbon measurements, census counts of benthic foraminifera, diatoms, and palynomorphs, and geochemistry from core 721-1 obtained in 2002 off San Francisquito Creek in South San Francisco Bay: data release DOI:10.5066/P9QQT6KZ, U.S. Geological Survey, Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center, Santa Cruz, CA.

    Online Links:

    Other_Citation_Details:
    Suggested Citation: McGann, M., Starratt, S.W., Reidy, L., Lorenson, T.D., Phillips, R.L., and Kneeshaw, T.A., 2023, Radiocarbon measurements, census counts of benthic foraminifera, diatoms, and palynomorphs, and geochemistry from core 721-1 obtained in 2002 off San Francisquito Creek in South San Francisco Bay: U.S. Geological Survey data release, https://doi.org/10.5066/P9QQT6KZ.
  2. What geographic area does the data set cover?
    West_Bounding_Coordinate: -122.0961
    East_Bounding_Coordinate: -122.0961
    North_Bounding_Coordinate: 37.4583
    South_Bounding_Coordinate: 37.4583
  3. What does it look like?
  4. Does the data set describe conditions during a particular time period?
    Beginning_Date: 2002
    Ending_Date: 2023
    Currentness_Reference:
    Ground condition at time data were collected.
  5. What is the general form of this data set?
    Geospatial_Data_Presentation_Form: comma-delimited text
  6. How does the data set represent geographic features?
    1. How are geographic features stored in the data set?
      This is a Point data set. It contains the following vector data types (SDTS terminology):
      • Point (23)
    2. What coordinate system is used to represent geographic features?
      Horizontal positions are specified in geographic coordinates, that is, latitude and longitude. Latitudes are given to the nearest 0.0001. Longitudes are given to the nearest 0.0001. Latitude and longitude values are specified in Decimal degrees. The horizontal datum used is North American Datum of 1927.
      The ellipsoid used is Clarke 1866.
      The semi-major axis of the ellipsoid used is 6378206.4.
      The flattening of the ellipsoid used is 1/294.978698214.
  7. How does the data set describe geographic features?
    A comma-separated values file with the first line being a header line.
    Results of radiocarbon dating, benthic foraminiferal census counts, diatom census counts, palynomorph census counts, and metal content of fine sediment. (Source: Producer defined.)
    Date_Collected
    Date in year. (Source: Producer defined.)
    Range of values
    Minimum:2002
    Maximum:2002
    Latitude
    Latitude of the site at which the push core was collected. (Source: Producer defined.)
    Range of values
    Minimum:37.4583
    Maximum:37.4583
    Units:decimal degrees
    Resolution:0.0001
    Longitude
    Longitude of the site at which the push core was collected. (Source: Producer defined.)
    Range of values
    Minimum:-122.0961
    Maximum:-122.0961
    Units:decimal degrees
    Resolution:0.0001
    Sample_Upper_Depth_Limit_cm
    The upper depth at which the sediment sample was obtained below the sediment surface in a core. (Source: Producer defined.)
    Range of values
    Minimum:0
    Maximum:170
    Units:centimeters
    Resolution:1
    Sample_Lower_Depth_Limit_cm
    The lower depth at which the sediment sample was obtained below the sediment surface in a core. (Source: Producer defined.)
    Range of values
    Minimum:0
    Maximum:172
    Units:centimeters
    Resolution:1
    Percent_abundance_foraminiferal_taxa
    Columns 6 to 30 are percent abundances of each foraminiferal taxon in the total foraminiferal assemblage and the sum of these columns is approximately 100 percent. The list of foraminiferal taxa below includes both the abbreviation and the full taxonomic binomial nomenclature and is presented in the same order as the taxa on the data file. (Source: Producer defined)
    ValueDefinition
    List of benthic foraminifera taxa Ammobaculites_exiguus represents Ammobaculites exiguus Cushman and Bronnimann, 1948 Ammonia_kitazatoi represents Ammonia kitazatoi Hayward and Holzmann, 2021 in Hayward and others 2021 Bolivina_striatula represents Bolivina striatula Cushman, 1922 Bolivina_vaughani represents Bolivina vaughani Natland, 1938 Bolivina_sp. represents Bolivina sp. Bulimina_sp. represents Bulimina sp. Buliminella_elegantissima represents Buliminella elegantissima (d'Orbigny, 1839) Cribroelphidium_excavatum represents Cribroelphidium excavatum (Terquem, 1875) Cribroelphidium_gunteri represents Cribroelphidium gunteri (Cole, 1931) Cribroelphidium_magellanicum represents Cribroelphidium magellanicum (Heron-Allen and Earland, 1932) Entzia_macrescens represents Entzia macrescens (Brady, 1870) Fissurina_sp. represents Fissurina sp. Fursenkoina_pontoni represents Fursenkoina pontoni (Cushman, 1932) Haplophragmoides_subinvolutum represents Haplophragmoides subinvolutum Cushman and McCulloch, 1939 Haynesina_germanica represents Haynesina germanica (Ehrenberg, 1840) Miliammina_fusca represents Miliammina fusca (Brady, 1870) Quinqueloculina_bellatula represents Quinqueloculina bellatula Bandy, 1950 Remaneica_kellettae represents Remaneica kellettae (Thalmann, 1932) Reophax_nana represents Reophax nana Rhumbler, 1913 Spiroplectammina_sp.? represents Spiroplectammina sp.? Textularia_earlandi represents Textularia earlandi Parker, 1952 Trochammina_hadai represents Trochammina hadai Uchio, 1962 Trochammina_inflata represents Trochammina inflata (Montagu, 1808) Trochammina_sp. represents Trochammina sp. Other represents Other specimens not identified to any taxonpercent abundance ranging from 0-100
    Total_Foraminifera_Counted
    Total number of foraminiferal specimens recovered in each sample. (Source: Producer defined)
    Range of values
    Minimum:7
    Maximum:385
    Units:each
    Resolution:1
    Entity_and_Attribute_Overview:
    The first line of the comma-separated values file is a header line.
    Entity_and_Attribute_Detail_Citation: U.S. Geological Survey

Who produced the data set?

  1. Who are the originators of the data set? (may include formal authors, digital compilers, and editors)
    • Mary McGann
  2. Who also contributed to the data set?
  3. To whom should users address questions about the data?
    U.S. Geological Survey, Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center
    Attn: PCMSC Science Data Coordinator
    2885 Mission Street
    Santa Cruz, CA

    650-329-4979 (voice)
    pcmsc_data@usgs.gov

Why was the data set created?

The urbanized area of downtown Menlo Park is subject to persistent flooding and sediment deposition by San Francisquito Creek in South San Francisco Bay. To mitigate these events, a suite of cores was collected in 2002 at the mouth of the creek to determine sediment depositional rates on the delta. One of those cores was selected for microbiological (pollen, diatoms, and benthic foraminifera) and geochemical analyses to reconstruct a depositional record over the past two millennia. Based on an abrupt change in lithology and faunal assemblages, an instantaneous vertical displacement and deepening of the depositional environment is evident. Coseismic subsidence associated with large fault ruptures may cause these events. An age model based on the first appearances of non-indigenous biota, radiocarbon dates, radiochemistry, and sediment geochemistry suggests the 1868 rupture of the Hayward Fault may have been the cause.

How was the data set created?

  1. From what previous works were the data drawn?
  2. How were the data generated, processed, and modified?
    Date: 2002 (process 1 of 2)
    A metal core barrel, approximately 9 cm in diameter, was driven into the mudflat slightly northwest of Hooks Point on informally named "Hooks Island" in South San Francisco Bay near Palo Alto, California in 2002 to recover a sediment core. The precise coring location is not available. The core was brought to the the USGS facility in Menlo Park, California and housed in a core refrigerator.
    Date: 2023 (process 2 of 2)
    Twenty-three two-cm sediment samples, each 10-20 cubic cm, were obtained downcore in core 721-1 and analyzed for benthic foraminifera. These sediment samples were wet-sieved through stacked 0.063 mm, 0.150 mm, and 1.0 mm screens to remove the silt and clay-sized fractions (greater than 0.063 mm). Sediment remaining on each screen was transferred to filter paper, air-dried, and then recombined with the other size fractions. Foraminifera were extracted from the greater than 0.063 mm to 1.0 mm fractions. Each sample was split with the aid of a microsplitter into an aliquot containing at least 300 benthic foraminifers. While viewing under a microscope, specimens were removed from the matrix with a small, moistened picking brush, and placed on pre-glued microfaunal slides. All specimens were picked, identified using the nomenclature registered in the World Foraminiferal Database, and tabulated. If the sample contained less than 300 foraminifera, all that were present were picked. The foraminiferal slides and residues of this study are on file at the U.S. Geological Survey, Menlo Park, California.
  3. What similar or related data should the user be aware of?

How reliable are the data; what problems remain in the data set?

  1. How well have the observations been checked?
    Microscopes are operationally checked every year to assure optics are aligned and visual acuity can be maximized during sorting and identifications. Specimen identifications were compared to reference material (actual specimens and published monographs) to ensure idenfications were accurate. Specimen enumeration (counts) were checked with original laboratory bench sorting sheets to assure numbers were correct, and the sorting and data entry into spreadsheets was rechecked at least once.
  2. How accurate are the geographic locations?
    A formal accuracy assessment of the horizontal positional information in the data set has not been conducted. The horizontal position was estimated based on distances from the modern tidal channel listed on a figure provided to the first author in October 2003. The horizontal accuracy cannot be determined.
  3. How accurate are the heights or depths?
  4. Where are the gaps in the data? What is missing?
    Dataset is considered complete for the information presented, as described in the abstract. Users are advised to read the metadata for each part of this data release carefully for additional details.
  5. How consistent are the relationships among the observations, including topology?
    Data were checked for logical consistency by the laboratory staff before release to confirm that numerical values were not outside a reasonable range for a particular field. Cumulative counts of percentage data for the total foraminiferal assemblage had to equal approximately 100% to ensure numbers were reported correctly.

How can someone get a copy of the data set?

Are there legal restrictions on access or use of the data?
Access_Constraints None
Use_Constraints USGS-authored or produced data and information are in the public domain from the U.S. Government and are freely redistributable with proper metadata and source attribution. Please recognize and acknowledge the U.S. Geological Survey as the originators of the dataset and in products derived from these data.
  1. Who distributes the data set? (Distributor 1 of 1)
    U.S. Geological Survey - ScienceBase
    Denver Federal Center, Building 810, Mail Stop 302
    Denver, CO

    1-888-275-8747 (voice)
    sciencebase@usgs.gov
  2. What's the catalog number I need to order this data set? These data are available in a comma-delimited text file (SFC_foramionifera_data.csv) which contains census counts of benthic foraminifera from core 721-1 obtained in 2002 off San Francisquito Creek in South San Francisco Bay.
  3. What legal disclaimers am I supposed to read?
    Unless otherwise stated, all data, metadata and related materials are considered to satisfy the quality standards relative to the purpose for which the data were collected. Although these data and associated metadata have been reviewed for accuracy and completeness and approved for release by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), no warranty expressed or implied is made regarding the display or utility of the data on any other system or for general or scientific purposes, nor shall the act of distribution constitute any such warranty.
  4. How can I download or order the data?
  5. What hardware or software do I need in order to use the data set?
    These data can be viewed with any text editor software.

Who wrote the metadata?

Dates:
Last modified: 28-Aug-2023
Metadata author:
U.S. Geological Survey, Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center
Attn: PCMSC Science Data Coordinator
2885 Mission Street
Santa Cruz, CA

831-427-4747 (voice)
pcmsc_data@usgs.gov
Metadata standard:
Content Standard for Digital Geospatial Metadata (FGDC-STD-001-1998)
This page is <https://cmgds.marine.usgs.gov/catalog/pcmsc/DataReleases/ScienceBase/DR_P9QQT6KZ/SFC_foraminifera_metadata.faq.html>
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